Deafness
Deafness or hearing loss is a reduction in the ability to perceive sounds.
Hearing plays a role in alerting and communicating. Any impairment of hearing, whatever its origin, has repercussions on our social life and cognitive functions. Deafness may be associated with tinnitus, hyperacusis, vertigo or balance problems.
When faced with a gradual or sudden decline in hearing, whether unilateral or bilateral, a complete assessment is necessary.
Deafness assessment
This involves a thorough medical history, an assessment of the impact of deafness on the patient’s life and a microscopic examination of the ears, supplemented if necessary by hearing tests:
- Pure tone and speech audiometry (speech in silence, speech in noise)
- Multi-frequency tympanometry, stapedial reflex testing
- Search of Auditory
- Brainstem Response (ABR)
- Search for Otoacoustic Emission (OEP, OEAS, OEAP, PDA)
- Electrocochleography
Sometimes, this assessment is supplemented by imaging of the ears and/or central auditory pathways and areas (MRI, CT scan, cone-beam).
At the end of this assessment, the patient’s hearing loss is classified according to its origin (conductive, sensorineural or mixed, auditory neuropathy, of central origin) and its degree (mild, moderate, severe, profound).
Appropriate treatment is then offered, which may include simple surveillance, advice on prevention or hearing protection, medication or a hearing aid. Sometimes surgery is necessary (middle ear surgery, acoustic nerve neuroma surgery, skull base surgery, bone implants).
OTONEURO MONACO : the reference for deafness
OTONEURO MONACO is also a reference centre for cochlear implants. We work in collaboration with implant centers in France and abroad.
Main pathologies treated :
- Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)
- Sudden deafness caused by vascular, microvascular, viral, cranial or sound trauma
- Occupational deafness
- Toxic deafness (chemotherapy, other ototoxic drugs)
- Genetic deafness
- Auditory Neuropathy
- Spectrum Disorders or « hidden hearing loss ».
- Meniere’s disease
- Chronic simple otitis, cholesteatoma
- Otosclerosis
- Perilymphatic fistulas
- Dehiscence of the anterior semicircular canal (Minor’s syndrome), other “third windows ».
- Neuroma or schwannoma of the acoustic nerve
We also perform comprehensive hearing evaluations for children with speech or learning difficulties.
